Chapter 30 The Scorned Lover’s Game
The Scorned Lover’s Game
“So how are you going to explain bringing Fletcher all the way here to California?” Jesse asked his brother. “Does he know about you guys?”
“You know, I haven’t really thought about that. I forgot we’re not in Seattle right now. It would’ve made a lot more sense if we were having dinner in Seattle.” Jesse made a really good point. Taylor clearly wasn’t thinking this through.
“Do you think that maybe we should…” Fletcher nervously looked at Taylor.
“Come out?” Jesse asked for him. “It’s called coming out.”
“Oh cause you’re some sort of gay expert now?” Taylor scoffed.
“No, idiot. You think you two are the only gay dudes I know?” Jesse asked plainly.
He was really bugging Taylor. As most little brothers do.
Taylor definitely wasn’t prepared to have this conversation.
“I mean, you don’t really tell me much, Jess.
You haven’t really answered any of my calls since I left,” Taylor bit back.
If they weren’t walking out in public, he would’ve probably grabbed Fletcher’s hand to ground himself.
He knew Fletcher was probably thinking the same thing.
Jesse looked at him and shrugged, basically telling him that there wasn’t much he could do about it now. “I was in my senior year of high school, Tay. I was busy. You were busy…”
“Not busy enough to call you. I mean, I’ve barely even heard from you in like a year. I’ve spoken to fucking Mandy more than I’ve spoken to you. You don’t think that’s a little concerning?”
Jesse shrugged again and kept giving him the same look.
“Honestly, I didn’t have much to say,” he told him.
Taylor really felt like Jesse was lying.
Or hiding something. He’d never been the type to keep things from Taylor.
It wasn’t like they were the closest of friends, but they were brothers and they had a mutual understanding about these kinds of things.
“Uhh, how about the fact that you got into Georgetown? Since when did you want to move to the East Coast? I thought you were dead set on UCLA.”
Jesse scoffed. “Sometimes people change their minds, Tay. I don’t understand why you’re picking a fight with me right now.”
“Oh my God, I’m literally not. You’re giving me fucking attitude because I’m trying to show a little concern. I mean, do you think I like waking up to a phone call from your school telling me you haven’t been seen in two weeks? Do you realize how much that fucking scared me?”
Taylor let out a frustrated huff.
“Do you really wanna be having this conversation right now?” Jesse barked out. “Because I think we both know the reason you were so concerned was because you felt guilty for leaving us with him.”
Right as Taylor was about to fire out a rebuttal, he spotted Sánchez walking up to the table. He had a pretty brunette girl with him who kind of resembled Briar.
“Hey man, it’s good to see you,” he said to Taylor as he came up to hug him.
“Armstrong? What the hell are you doing here, compa?” He sounded surprised but excited to see Fletcher.
Fletcher stood up from the table and gave Sánchez a hug. “It’s a long story,” he chuckled nervously.
“Look at how big you are!” Sánchez said to Jesse. “Wow you guys are literally twins.”
“Clearly I’m the better looking one,” Taylor scoffed. “And who’s your friend?” Taylor asked him.
“This is my older sister, Alejandra. She’s here visiting for the summer before she has to go back to school.”
“Nice to meet you,” Taylor smiled politely at her and shook her hand. “Where do you go to school?”
“I’ll be a sophomore at Georgetown,” she said softly.
Taylor raised his eyebrows. “Really? That’s so funny. My brother Jesse here,” he pointed towards his brother, “he’s starting in the fall.”
“No shit, really? Small world, I guess,” she laughed.
Sánchez pulled out a chair for her before sitting down in his own.
“So what have you guys been up to?” he asked them.
“I took Fletcher out to Folsom to go hiking,” Taylor told him. Not sounding suspicious at all.
“That’s nice, man. I didn’t know you guys were so close outside of hockey,” Sánchez said unsuspectingly.
“Yeah, I mean we hang out,” Taylor said nervously, looking down at the table.
“He’s coming with me to Florida to work at my family’s charity hockey camp,” Fletcher interjected. Taylor whipped his head over to Fletcher and gave him a surprised look. He was definitely not expecting Fletcher to come up with a convincing lie so quickly.
“Oh, that’s right. I remember reading about that somewhere.”
Fletcher nodded. “Taylor invited himself to dinner with my family while we were in Jacksonville. My dad practically begged him to come.”
“Sánchez raised an eyebrow. “Your dad? I thought you and him weren’t that close,” he said to Fletcher.
Fletcher shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “It’s for charity.”
Sánchez just nodded before changing the topic. “So, Taylor,” he said, turning to Taylor. “Ale was just telling me she’s kind of your biggest fan,” he said suggestively.
“Oh my God, Emilio. Shut up,” she scoffed.
Taylor gave her another polite smile. “Thanks for the support.”
“You know she used to play hockey, too, right? She was on the girls’ team in high school and plays for Georgetown.
” Oh God. Sánchez was trying to set Taylor up with his older sister.
He stole a glance at Fletcher, who smiled back at him as if nothing were wrong.
But he could tell Fletcher was a little tense. Taylor felt the shift immediately.
“Is that so?” Taylor said. “That’s cool,” he said, trying to sound bored.
Ale shrugged, but Taylor could tell she was hiding her blush. “Not as good as you guys, obviously.”
“Are you thinking of going professional?” Jesse asked her.
She turned her attention over to Taylor’s brother.
Taylor sneakily placed his hand on Fletcher’s thigh.
He just needed a little reassurance, but Fletcher pushed his hand away.
Clearly, he was upset. Taylor tried looking at him, but Fletcher continued to sit and listen to her, and Jesse speak with the same fake nice face Taylor hated.
It was only a tiny rejection, but it still hit Taylor like a punch to the face.
“So, Sánchez,” Taylor cleared his throat, trying to deflect. This was too awkward and Taylor couldn’t even order a fucking drink. “Have you heard from Katherine lately?”
Sánchez shook his head, not seeming to really care. “Nah, I’m not upset. It needed to happen. She was too nice for me.”
Taylor nodded. “So have you been seeing anyone new?”
“No way, man. I don’t want to tie myself down right now. Maybe in a few years, I guess. How about you, man? You gotta girl you’ve been hiding from us?”
Taylor gave him a crooked smile. “I mean,” he flickered his eyes at Fletcher who refused to look back at him.
This was not good. Fletcher was going to be so upset at him for putting them in this predicament.
But Taylor couldn’t just tell Sánchez he was seeing Fletcher.
They still hadn’t discussed a timeline of when they would tell people or how they would tell people.
Taylor was really being put on the spot here and he hated it.
“I’ve been seeing someone, but it’s pretty casual,” Taylor lied.
“Good for you, man. And what about you, Armstrong?” he asked, turning to Fletcher.
Taylor looked at Fletcher, who just shrugged. “Not really. I guess I’m still pretty caught up on the whole Maude thing,” he said, sounding upset.
Taylor’s stomach dropped. This wasn’t the same kind of lie that he had just told. Fletcher was doing this on purpose to bother him. He didn’t think it was funny. Taylor wanted to scream. He wanted to leave. He didn’t want to be having this awkward conversation at this awkward dinner.
“Really?” he asked Fletcher, sounding a little shocked. “I mean you did seem pretty upset about it right after it happened. I didn’t know you cared about her that much.”
“Yeah, I mean I guess so. I know it had only been two months but they were like the best two months of my life. A part of me thinks that,” he let out a sigh. That fucking liar. “Maybe I kind of loved her. I’d never really felt that way about anyone before.”
Oh hell no, Taylor thought to himself. Fletcher was being petty about this and he didn’t like it one bit. It made him sick. Doubts crept into his head. He wanted to question everything. What did Fletcher mean by “loved her?” Is this all just a game to him?
“Aww that’s so sad,” Ale pouted. She reached across the table and placed her hand over Fletcher’s consolingly. Fletcher gave her an appreciative smile. Taylor could feel his heart clench. This wasn’t fair. This was messed up.
Taylor shot daggers at his brother as he tried to disguise his laughter. “Wow, Fletcher. You must be heartbroken,” Jesse shook his head and pretended to feel bad.
Luckily, their waiter came and took their orders.
After Taylor put in his order, he excused himself to use the restroom.
He walked through the dark restaurant and found his way to the bathroom.
He just needed to take a breather and calm down.
Fletcher was obviously joking and he was taking it personal.
He just needed to take a few deep breaths and—
“Why’d you leave?”
He turned and watched Jesse walk into the bathroom. Taylor just shook his head, not bothering to try and conceal his mental anguish. “I’m fine. I’m just overthinking or something.”
“It’s okay to be upset. You’re hiding a relationship and it must really screw with your head sometimes.”
Jesse walked over to the sink and placed his hand on Taylor’s shoulder. “You know I’m proud of you. It takes balls to be gay in the NHL,” Jesse said before snorting to himself. “No pun intended.” Taylor let out a small laugh. He and Jesse were very alike.
“I just need time to prepare myself. I’m not ashamed of loving him, but I am afraid of losing the respect of people in the league,” Taylor confessed.